Bi-metal packing



Patented May 10, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CARL J'. LAMB, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 IVES'JJIN'Gl-HOUSIEX ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURINGKCOMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA iai-METAL PACKING My invention relates to labyrinth packing, and it has for its object to provide means for maintaining close clearances in said packing.

It also has for its object to change the clearance with changes in operating conditions, such as changes in temperature, and a specific object is to provide clearance in case of accidental rubbing, thereby stopping fui'- ther rubbing and injury to the packing.

In the design of labyrinthpacking for sealing the spaces between two relatively ro` tatable members, the clearances between the packing elements are made very close in order to minimize fluid leakage therebetween. In actual opera-tion, such packing is liable to rub due to inaccuracies in manufacture, unequal expansion of the members upon heating, or other causes.

In accordance with my invention, I provide an element composed of laminae of two substances having different coeicients of eX-V pansion, and I so dispose said element that a change in temperature therein will distort said element to vary the clearance providedl thereby. To provide an increased clearance upon rubbing, the packing element is disposed with the laminae of material having a higher coefficient of expansion on the side adjacent the clearance.

Apparatus exemplifying my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein: .i Y y f Fig. 1 is a sectional'viewk of one form vof my invention; and, n

Figs. 2, '3, f1 and 5 are sectional views, each showing a modified embodiment of the invention. p p

Referring to the drawings in'detail, I show fragments of a casing 10 and a shaft 11 of any iiuid machine, such as a steam turbine. The shaft carries a sleeve or ring 12 secured thereon and having packing elements 13 eX- tending outwardly therefrom, and preferably integral therewith. A. stationary ring 14 is secured to the casing 10 and encompasses the ring 12. Stationary bi-metal packing elements 15, encompassing and cooperating with the rotating packing elements 13, are support- -ed by the ring 14. Supporting strips 16,-

having rootl portions secured in grooves 17 iny the ring, project radially inwardly from the ring, theprojecting portions having grooves in which the edges of the packing elements 15 are secured.`

' In this embodiment, the packing elements Y 15 extendqsubstantially axially of the shaft. These strips are composed of thermostatic metal, that is, la-IninaeV of metals having dif# lferent coefficients of expansion. For example, brass and invar steel may be used, the,

former having a high coefficient Vand the lat? tera slight or zero coelicient. It' is'tobe cuY understood, of course, that any other two metals, or'other substances, having different coeflicients olf expansion may be used. Where it is desired to increase the clearance upon accidental rubbing, the lamina of metal having the higher coeiiicient of expansion is' disposed on the inner side facing the adjacent packing element 13, and the other lamina having the lower, or possible zero or negative coeficient, is disposed on the outer side encompassing the first lamina.

The operation of this embodiment is as follows:

Suppose that the pressure within the casing 10 is above atmospheric pressure. The fluid within the casing therefore tends to flow through the packing to the right as shown on the drawings, a small amount flow' ing through theclearance betweenthe first' pairof cooperating packing elements 13 and packing element 13, thereby increasing thek clearance and stopping the rubbing. f

When the turbine is shut down andallowed to cool, the bi-metal packing elements may As the temperature in-V` bend and bear against the packing elements 13. In starting, however, a quantity of steam is admitted to the turbine before the rotor starts turning over, which steam heats the bi-metal packing elements and returns them to their operatiiig.y position.,

It Willthus bef-seen. that dangerofinjury to the packing elements by rubbing is eliminated or minimized, inasmuch as the clearanceisiinmediately increasedwhen theerubl.

bing begins.- i Y In Fig. 2, I show an embodiment of my invention in Which stationary loi-metal pack-` ving elements 21 extend radiallyi inwardly` from a stationary member 22'to packing `elements 23 carriedsonthe shaft 24... The endsof the, packing Yelements fare. tapered or bevelled vso thatv movement `of the packing :elements 2l iin, eitherF axial ;d-irection.,causes increased clearance. At the temperature of norm al. .operation of the machine With which thepacking fis -associatedtlieendsl of the.

elements21ai-re oppositathe tips ofthe elements 23, butiin casefof-rubbing the elements 21 m ove in :an axial-*direction to provide-an axial clearance, thereby avoiding further rubbilig.: Y

An ,advantageaof this `i'ormi is thatit 'elimiiiates any vdificulty lwhich ,might `be encounteredY i reason.A ofbi-metal packingfelements taking iup all clearance When the *machineV is not.in,op,eration, and cooled to normal iatrnospheric-V temperature.l With this form, Whenthe bifmetal packingelements-21y cool ,.beloiv.` operatingI temperature, ythey merely move-r in an `axialdirectioni-,oppositeto that.

in which. they, move Whenv heated, Without takingup. the. normal clearances.

In Fig.l 3 is shoivn an .embodiment some` 40 what sim-ilarto Fig. 1..V In; .this case, the bimetal packing elements 15 extend oblioiiielyV to theinclined surfaces 26 ofthefrotary pack; ing elementsflf.. This ,arrangement Lpermits the` rotor tobey easily .moved .to adjust the ,packingzclearances lili/gaa sho-Wsan'embodiment inf which axial clearances are. formed .between .ther packing elements. The bi-.inet-al .packing elements 31 extendvinwardly atL asli'glit4 angle to the `radius,.f,and@pack,against the.. radial. A,suriaces of the.rotaryzpackingelements 32.` The metal havigfethe higher, coefficient of expansion is disposed on thgfside adjacent the packing elements` 32, .andehence, .in lcase ofi-rubbing the. bi-nietal packing Aelements -inove to the left .ptoaincreasefthe clearances.

InfFigh, isshovv'nia still further modification inwhich thefbifmetal packing, elements 86 extendv diagonali-y, tmCylindrical .surfaces- 'on the-rotorBZ, and p ackby radial clearance.

In CaSep-.ru-bbing, .theiradial clearance is-increased.` as explained. in connection with Fig. 1. y

Ihave i described the fbi-metal packing ele- 55=-ments intheniodi-cations 'shown' iny Figs,A 1,

vof operation may be of greater importance than safety of the packing elements. In the operation of ae largeV turbine, `thfegreatest# packingJ difficulties Lare encountered -inJ startingoperation, due to the Jfact that the rotor distorts when changing temperature. It may, therefore, be founddesirable to provide greater clearances vWhile starting and to deci'easevtlie clearances When; the; turbine,v or other inachine,is inI full', operation: To. laccomplish this, thefbi-metal packingelements:v ,may be reversed, that is, the metal having-g; the lowerv'coeilicient of expansion'. may be placedon the. packing-side-or on..the sidefformingtlie clearance; VithY such arrangement, when theegturbinefiscooled,1the-clear lance would be large, and underlh'eavy'load,1 after beingl placed 1n operation, theclearance would be decreased in order` to provide minimum leakagev and: maximum efficiency of the-v turbine;

lt Will thus `be seenthat I .fhave--Aprovideili.y a nevel means of 4varying'th'e clearance in a labyrinth pack-ing elements, Whichfis adapted g to .be used vini numerous different Ways.

/Vhi-le l have shown lby inventionl ini sev-f eral forms, it will be obviousto those skilled-- in the art/that-itisnotso limitedfbut is susceptible ot variousl other changes and" inodifi'cat-ions'- Without departing; from the spiritthereof, andgl desire,- therefore,lgthat only such limitations shall be-placed lthereupon asvare imposed by theiprior art orfas are -set forthiin fthe/appended fclaim.

What- I claim fis r ln a labyrinth ,fpackinggfor rtWo relatively i rotatable --memb.ers',l .an annular i ypacking aeleinent carried by one memberfa-nd extending;

substantially radi-ally:y outwardly therefrom,

and alsecond annular-s, packingfelement care ried by the other member and extendingsubrestantially radially "inwardly` inV axial-clear:

ance packing relation to thei,-'iirst-imentionedr packingy element, the secondi packing;-element.

ent coefficients of expansion, the laminahaiv-A 'the higheri:coeiiicientfbeing onffthe; side.

adjacent the:first-nientionedpackingelement; whereby, in 'caseot accidental contact :of the packingelements andV consequent' heating I thereor, the second packing element Wil-l bendaivay from .'thel first-mentioned packing-3 ele-z nient to preventfdainage to thefpackfingqele-A ments.

In testimony whereof,y I have hereunto,- subscribed my naine thisq8th day. otDee., 1927;.y

,CARL ,rmii-ia...I 

